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Thousands of indigenous peoples led by CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador) converge on Quito in March 2012 after a 15-day march demanding an end to open pit mining and new oil concessions.

By
Federico Fuentes

May
20, 2014 – Links International Journal of
Socialist Renewal, a shorter verson of this article appeared in Green Left Weekly-- A recent spate of high-profile
campaigns against projects based on extracting raw materials has opened up an
important new dynamic within the broad processes of change sweeping South
America. Understanding their nature and significance is crucial to grasping the
complexities involved in bringing about social change and how best to build
solidarity with peoples’ struggles.

The recent arrest of the secretary general of the People's United Democratic
Movement (PUDEMO),
Mlungisi Makhanya, and seven other members of PUDEMO and Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) is testimony
to the reality of a country that has become a big national prison
against its own people.

PUDEMO leaders were jailed for defying
the Suppression of Terrorism Act and its predecessor, the 1973 decree
that criminalises all forms of political activity and imprisons the rights
of the people.

The crime of wearing the wrong colours, PUDEMO
paraphernalia is a serious one under Swazi law as designed by the
tinkhundla system, hence the legalised murder of Sipho Jele a few years
back for wearing these banned colours.

We condemn the death sentences issued by a court in Minya
province in Egypt on March 24, 2014, against 529 defendants who were found
guilty of the murder of a police officer during the storming of Matay
police station in August 2013.

The use of the death sentence against such a large number
of defendants underscores that the current regime is not interested in
finding out the truth about the events which led to this prosecution but
rather in imposing collective punishment on its opponents.

The sentences were issued without hearing any arguments
from the defence in a trial which lasted only 45 minutes according to
defence lawyers.

February 20, 2014 -- Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal -- The Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) is deeply concerned over the current situation in Venezuela where the Bolivarian Revolution is threatened by violent attacks from the far-right opposition, which aims to restore the oligarchic rule of big business and corporate interests in Venezuela.

Venezuelan right-wing opposition groups launched their latest assault on February 12 2014 by staging violent demonstrations to destabilise the Bolivarian government led by President Nicolas Maduro. Violent clashes took place and resulted in three deaths, including the death of Juan Montoya, a revolutionary community leader and staunch supporter of the Bolivarian Revolution who died from gunshot wounds in Barrio 23 de Enero. The latest incident is reminiscent of the events that led to the failed coup against then President Hugo Chavez on April 11, 2002. Right-wing opposition forces backed by the US government have employed such tactics many times in Venezuela in their attempt to defeat the Bolivarian Revolution and to restore the ancien régime which championed the savage neoliberal economic order.

February 7, 2014 -- Links international Journal of Socialist Renewal -- Join this year’s Australian solidarity delegation to Venezuela, December 2-13, 2014. Registrations are now open for the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network’s 2014 solidarity tour to revolutionary Venezuela.

The tour -- to run from Tuesday, December 2 to Saturday, December 13 (inclusive) -- will be a unique an opportunity to observe first hand, learn about and be inspired by a grassroots movement that is transforming not only Venezuela, but Latin America, and is challenging the greed and destructiveness of global capitalism by showing that a better world is possible.

Since 1998, Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution has achieved remarkable things by putting control of the country’s politics and economy back into the hands of the poor majority. Despite the challenges created by the United States-backed opposition’s campaign to stall and destroy the revolution, this people-powered process of change continues to flourish.

“We in Swaziland are not doing enough for Palestine”, he said
sternly. I replied that I thought they had their hands full already. And I
couldn’t help but smile. But the comrade was not amused. He shook his head impatiently.
“That’s not how it works. We ask for solidarity so we must give
solidarity.”

Presumably, however, the liberal critics of BDS have no objection
to the Palestinians themselves “singling out” Israel and
campaigning against the particular injustice that affects them. So
they’re permitted to call for international support but we are not
permitted to answer that call.

Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings. -- Nelson Mandela

December 29, 2013 -- Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal -- The outpouring of emotion and dignified appreciation that met the passing of Nelson Mandela on December 5, 2013, flowed like a raging river from every nation and people on the planet. It was a grief tempered by a jubilation and wonderment at the life of this great and humble human being.

While it is certainly true that Mandela's death resonated most powerfully with the South African people and particularly with oppressed and exploited working people worldwide, it is also the case that Mandela was admired and loved by countless millions from all social classes and walks of life with any democratic and anti-racist principles, who were sincerely touched and inspired by his amazing life, his example and his deeds.

I had the unforgettable experience -- and the thrill of a lifetime -- to meet, shake hands and exchange a few words with Nelson Mandela.

December 8, 2013 -- Johnriddell.wordpress.com, posted at Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal with permission -- In October 2013 I accompanied Suzanne Weiss in a trip back into
the history of rural France under Nazi occupation. Suzanne’s interviews
there provided a framework for the following talk given by her to
Solidarity for Palestine Human Rights at the University of Western
Ontario on November 20, 2013. A portion of her speech has been published
by Electronic Intifada; the full text first appeared in Bullet, a publication of Socialist Project. -- John Riddell.

By the Partido Lakas ng Masa (Party of the Labouring Masses, Philippines)

December 7, 2013 -- Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal -- The Partido Lakas ng Masa salutes Nelson Mandela, the great freedom fighter, who led the struggle to smash apartheid in South Africa. The dismantling of the political institutions of the apartheid state is a historic contribution of Nelson Mandela to the struggle of the international working-class movement.

Here in the Philippines, during the height of the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship in the 1980s, we were inspired by our South African comrades-in-arms and Nelson Mandela. We understood then, that our struggles were interlinked and that the stakes were high internationally, for the outcome of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. The defeat of the apartheid government, and the victory of the liberation movement in South Africa, was also our victory.

The current chairperson of PLM had the honour of representing the Philippines movement at the first congress of the African National Congress after winning power, in December 1994, where he met Nelson Mandela and had discussions with the South African Communist Party comrades. We, in the Philippines movement, were thus able to participate, albeit to a small extent, in the celebration of the victory of the South African liberation movement.

On November 3, 2013, Brian Manning -- veteran Northern Territory
communist, trade unionist, campaigner against racism, long-time activist
for Indigenous people's rights and solidarity campaigner with the East
Timorese people (among many other causes) -- died in Darwin, aged 81.
Brian won enormous respect for his commitment to human rights and his
unstinting dedication to changing the system.

On September 30, 2013, in their effort to stop developers from demolishing Kampung Hakka Mantin, five residents and seven activists were arrested by police. It is also reported that one resident was injured during the commotion. Among those picked up was Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S. Arutchelvan.

Around 90 residents and activists gathered at the village in Negri Sembilan, attempting to negotiate with the developer, police and court representative, who came to demolish the houses. The negotiation broke down at 11.20 am, and the authorities proceeded to detain those trying to stop the demolition.

The
solidarity tour, to run from December 4
to 13this year, will be the
first AVSN brigade since the election of President Nicolas Maduro following the
death of Hugo Chavez.

Since
1998, when Chavez was first elected president, the Bolivarian revolution has
achieved remarkable gains by putting control of Venezuela’s politics and
economy back into the hands of the poor majority. Despite the challenges
created by Chavez’s death, in particular the United States-backed opposition’s
campaign to undermine the new president and government of Venezuela, this people
power driven revolution continues to flourish, defying all attempts to destroy
it.

July 19, 2013 --
The above talk,"Legacy of Interrnational Socialism", was presented by the US International Socialist Organization's Ahmed Shawki at the organisation's annual Socialism conference in Chicago,
June 27-30, 2013. It outlines the some of the history of the International Socialist Tendency and how the Socialist Workers Party of Britain came to dominate and command it. It deals with the relationship between the ISO and SWP, and the current crisis afflicting the UK SWP. It opens a discussion on the basis of international collaboration between left parties. This and other talks are also available at Wearemany.org.

June 27, 2013 -- Green Left TV -- Bob Boughton speaks to GLTV's Linda Seaborn about his experience with the Cuban literacy campaign. Filmed in the GLTV studio at the Hobart Activist Centre.

This is an abridged transcript of an interview Linda Seaborn conducted with Dr Bob Boughton for Green Left Weekly. Boughton helped initiate a Cuba-supported literacy program in the New South Wales town of Wilcannia.

* * *

Tell us about the Cuban “Yes, we can” literacy campaign model.

I came across it while working in Timor Leste where the government
had invited a group of Cubans to help with their national literacy
campaign. They had a model they had developed back in 2000. There are
three aspects to the model. One is they mobilise the whole community
around the issue of literacy and they build a local campaign structure
which drives the campaign.

The second aspect of the model is they have a pre-recorded set of
DVDs on which there are lessons, and when you watch the lessons you are
watching a class learn how to read and write.

The third aspect of the campaign is that when people complete the 64
lessons, the community or local government organise activities which
allow people to continue to build their literacy.

The
solidarity tour, to run from December 4
to 13this year, will be the
first AVSN brigade since the election of President Nicolas Maduro following the
death of Hugo Chavez.

Since
1998, when Chavez was first elected president, the Bolivarian revolution has
achieved remarkable gains by putting control of Venezuela’s politics and
economy back into the hands of the poor majority. Despite the challenges
created by Chavez’s death, in particular the United States-backed opposition’s
campaign to undermine the new president and government of Venezuela, this people
power driven revolution continues to flourish, defying all attempts to destroy
it.

May 27, 2013 -- Green Left Weekly-- An important summit of global significance, held in Brazil on May 16-20,
2013, has largely passed below the radar of most media outlets, including
many left and progressive sources.

This summit was not the usual type, involving heads of states and business leaders. Instead, it was a gathering of social movement representatives from
across Latin America and the Caribbean -- the site of some of the most
intense struggles and popular rebellions of the past few decades.

This region also remains the only one where an alternative to
neoliberal capitalism has emerged. Pushing this alternative is the
Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA). Spearheaded
by the radical governments of Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Cuba, it
has eight member states, but seeks to relate to people's movements, not
just governments.

Our
urgent common priorities for a democratic, social, ecological and feminist
Europe

May 21, 2013 -- Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal -- Europe stands on
the edge of a precipice, looking into the abyss. Austerity policies drive the
peoples of Europe into poverty, undercut democracy and dismantle social
policies. Rising inequalities endanger social cohesion. Ecological destruction
is worsening while acute humanitarian crises
devastate the most affected countries. Women and young people are hardest hit.

May 21, 2013 -- Malaysia's human rights organisation Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) requests your urgent intervention in the detention of Adam Adli (pictured above), student activist from Malaysia. SUARAM is dedicated to the protection of human rights defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.

Brief description of the situation:

SUARAM condemns the arbitrary and unlawful detention of Student Activist, Adam Adli under the Section 4 of the Sedition Act[1] which prohibiting discourse deemed as seditious and if found guilty under the act, Adam could be jailed for up to three years, fined not more than RM5000, or both.